A famous quote

“Politics, as a practice, whatever its professions , has always been the systematic organization of hatreds.”

I don’t know why “whatever its professions” sounds a little awkward to me. I think there should be something omitted, like the verb. It should be “whatever its professions are”.

Besides, I don’t get what exactly “professions” means. It means “declarations”?


If there is a sentence completion question like this:
It has been argued that politics as___, whatever its professionals, has always been the systematic organization of common hatreds.
A. a theory B. an ideal C. a practice D. a contest E. an enigma

Could you tell me what makes C right? In other words, What is it based on that you choose C?

Thank you!